[ContemptofCourt]

State senator calls for investigation into prescriptions

By Bob Mahlburg and Doris Bloodsworth Tallahassee Bureau Posted December 3 2003

TALLAHASSEE · The head of the Florida Senate's health committee said Tuesday he is requesting a legislative investigation into doctors who overprescribe the powerful prescription painkiller OxyContin.

Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, said he was prompted to act by a series of articles about prescription drug abuse in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Orlando Sentinel.

"It's not only very damaging to the public but costly to the state, so there's every reason to do this," he said.

OxyContin has been linked to more than 200 deaths in Florida, and many victims were taking prescriptions but suffered accidental overdoses or addiction. In addition to the human toll, Saunders said, billing abuses and Medicaid fraud involving the drug are wasting taxpayer money.

"The state is losing tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars because of this," he said. "It's a huge issue."

Saunders said he will ask Senate President Jim King next week to name a select panel of legislators to investigate problems, hear testimony from experts and recommend changes in state law.

Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday directed his drug czar James McDonough to "lay the groundwork for a comprehensive solution to this fatal and expensive form of drug abuse" during a meeting set for Dec. 12 with several state agency heads and Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Among the issues Bush cited in a letter to McDonough was "doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping," suspect Internet pharmacy sales, adulteration and illegal importation of prescription drugs "and other various allegations of illegalities."

"We must preserve the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship, guarantee the best possible pain management and medical services, and ensure the privacy of the individual. At the same time, however, we must halt the widespread abuses …and decrease the deadly and expensive consequences that come with such abuses," Bush wrote.

Am I missing the state interest?

[Always Right]

Am I missing the state interest?

THe state interest is reducing the harm from the abuse. Since Rush has sought treatment, the state interest has been addressed. What I am proposing is Rush volenteer to further this state interest. What state interest do you see in putting Rush in jail?

[Catspaw]

You know what's really annoying? My daughter, who has rheumatoid arthritis, was really helped by Oxycontin because it's a time release pain medication. Because of those who abuse Oxycontin, she cannot get a prescription for Oxycontin (she used to)--and even if she could get a doctor to give her a prescription for Oxycontin, she can't find a pharmacist in her area to fill it. No one's selling it, or even stocking it. The only time that Oxycontin is available to her is when she's an in-patient at the hospital.

[OldPossum]

Yes, you are. From what I've read, the deaths associated with narcotics are junkies who take more than the prescribed doses, grind up timed-release tablets and inject the stuff into their arms, mix narcotics with alcohol, in short, do everything inconsistent with the proper use of the drugs. You are mostly dealing with irresponsible, stupid people in this arena. And there is nothing the state can do about such.